Defra's Actions Are Increasing The Wildfire Risk: Our Letter to The Telegraph
- Andrew Gilruth
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
Defra must be congratulated on its commitment to protecting our uplands, yet its actions are resulting in them going up in flames (Banishing sheep for rewilding is increasing fire risk, Rayner told, April 13).
We are already experiencing our worst year for wildfires and climate scientists are telling us to expect a dramatic increase. Rather than address this risk, it is now government policy to make the situation even worse, through rapidly increasing the vegetation fuel load.
Previous generations counted on sheep to control their vegetation, something discouraged by Natural England, as is traditional winter burning and mowing. Further Natural England restrictions in 2021 led to a 73% fall in fuel load management and it is currently proposing to extend these restrictions over an extra 350,000 acres. Future generations will think us insane.
No wonder the National Fire Chiefs Council has called for strategic government policymaking to avoid a catastrophe. The fact that we are in such a critical situation is astonishing. Those that live and work in our countryside deserve better than waiting for a death to change national policy on how we best protect our landscapes.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew Gilruth
Chief Executive
Moorland Association